Azumi Isora - Azumi no Isora

Japanese: 安曇磯良 - あずみのいそら

An ancient sea spirit. In the miraculous record "Hachiman Gudokun" (written at the end of the Kamakura period) of Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine (Yawata City), it is written, "Shikashima Daimyojin called Azumi Isoura." "Shikashima Daimyojin" is the deity enshrined at Shikanoumi Shrine (Fukuoka City) on Shikano Island in Kyushu. This shrine was worshiped by the Azumi clan, a powerful clan that led the sea people in ancient times. Isora's appearance is described in volume 39 of the "Taiheiki" under the name "Adobe no Isoura." According to this, when Empress Jingu attacked Silla, she invited various gods, but Isora was the only one who did not respond because he was ashamed of his ugly appearance, so the gods performed songs and dances to lure him out. Eventually, she borrowed and presented to him a secret treasure (Kanju, Manju) that had the spiritual power of the ebb and flow of the tides from the underwater Dragon Palace, and the empress succeeded in attacking Silla. The Achime in the "Achime Manners" in the Imperial Court Kagura refers to "Azumi" or "Adobe," and was an idol in ancient performing arts.

(Tsutomu Saijo)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

古代の海の精霊。石清水八幡宮(八幡市)の霊験記『八幡愚童訓』(鎌倉時代末期に成立)に「安曇磯良と申す志賀島大明神」とある。「志賀島大明神」とは九州志賀島の志賀海神社(福岡市)の祭神。この神社は古代に海人族を率いた豪族安曇氏が祭っていた。イソラの出現の様は『太平記』巻39に「阿度部の磯良」の名で語られている。それによれば,神功皇后が新羅を攻めたとき諸神を招いたが,イソラだけは醜い容貌を恥じて応じなかったため,諸神が歌舞を奏して誘い出した。やがて海底の竜宮城から潮の干満の霊力を持つ秘宝(干珠,満珠)を借り請けて献上し,皇后は新羅を討つことに成功したという。宮廷神楽に「阿知女作法」とあるアチメは「安曇」あるいは「阿度部」を指し,古代芸能の偶像であった。<参考文献>折口信夫『日本芸能史』

(西條勉)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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